Thoughts from the interface of science, religion, law and culture

After spending several years touring the country as a stand up comedian, Ed Brayton tired of explaining his jokes to small groups of dazed illiterates and turned to writing as the most common outlet for the voices in his head. He has appeared on the Rachel Maddow Show and the Thom Hartmann Show, and is almost certain that he is the only person ever to make fun of Chuck Norris on C-SPAN.

EVENTS

EEOC Sues Company Over Forced Religious Practices

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against a company in New York for forcing a variety of religious exercises on its employees and firing them if they don’t take part. This is blatantly illegal under the Civil Rights Act, which forbids discrimination on the basis of religion.

According to the EEOC’s suit, United Health Programs of America, Inc., and its parent company, Cost Containment Group, Inc., which provide customer service on behalf of various insurance providers, coerced employees to participate in ongoing religious activities since 2007. These activities included group prayers, candle burning, and discussions of spiritual texts. The religious practices are part of a belief system that the defendants’ family member created, called “Onionhead.” Employees were told wear Onionhead buttons, pull Onionhead cards to place near their work stations and keep only dim lighting in the workplace. None of these practices was work-related. When employees opposed taking part in these religious activities or did not participate fully, they were terminated.

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York (Civil Action No. 14-cv-3673) after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

“While religious or spiritual practices may indeed provide comfort and community to many people, it is critical to be aware that federal law prohibits employers from coercing employees to take part in them,” said EEOC senior trial attorney Sunu P. Chandy.

Robert D. Rose, regional attorney of EEOC’s New York District Office, added, “Individuals are free to practice religion or not in line with their own personal beliefs. Employers are not permitted to dictate this area of workers’ lives. Workplace pressure to conform to the employers’ spiritual or religious practices violates federal employment law.”

“Individuals are free to practice religion or not in line with their own personal beliefs. Employers are not permitted to dictate this area of workers’ lives. Workplace pressure to conform to the employers’ spiritual or religious practices violates federal employment law.”

Tell that to the Hobby Lobby creep, CEO Steve Green.

Right now he is trying to interfere with his employee’s family planning decisions. By telling them what birth control they can use, how, and when.

It took 7 years to discover this? Better late than never, I guess. These people probably weren’t too far from getting into bunk beds wearing tennis shoes, and waiting to be beamed up to the mothership.

I dealt with these assholes about 10 years ago and they lied through their fucking teeth about what they would cover. According to Wiki they’re #17 on the Fortune 500 and a really dreamy outfit to work for…

After glancing over photon’s link at #18, my first guess is that they thought they could get away with it because it’s not religion — it’s spirituality. There are a lot of newage buzzwords and deepities re supernatural connections blurred into practical advice. There’s no specific Church.

I have New Age and neopagan friends who think this is a big, important distinction. Why, Spirituality violates no laws on the separation of Church and State because Spirituality includes everyone, regardless of their religion. They don’t get (or don’t want to get) the concept that the promotion of supernatural beliefs per se qualifies as advancing “religion.” They’re as emotionally invested in denying that Spirituality is “religion” as those fundamentalists who insist they don’t have a religion, it’s a “relationship.”